Cronky

He looked fast. Sooner or later Pardew will have to take the chance on him at CB.

4-4-2 with Obertan and Jonas out wide and Sissoko up front with Cisse felt like a step backwards. We looked far better when Sissoko was allowed to drop deeper, but the first half hour was a bit of a waste. We were a bit unlucky not to score, and they were a decent, skilful side who played the ball out from defence very well. Sometimes crosses don't find their man, and decisions go against you. One of those nights.

According to the tribunal, it was Nacho that was the problem. Xisco never got a mention. Before the tribunal, it was assumed that Xisco was the problem because it was naturally assumed that a manager would be far more inclined to quit over a major signing than a minor loan deal. The Xisco idea has survived because it casts Keegan in a better light. Stop it, people.

Bastard, you've beaten me to it.

Yes , I know it seems crazy , but think about it , you don't imperatively need to be tall, strong , in the final third of the pitch , movement , precise passing and skills is the key in modern football , those 3 players can offer that , god we use to play Ba-Cissé-Shola sometimes... I don't think HBA is strong enough for that role, which also demands a lot of footballing intelligence. Hatem tends to think for himself that bit too much. I also think that in order to play like Barca, you need to have players like Barca. Everyone else has to make sure they've got a good defence.

I can't imagine Gazza being able to knuckle down to any kind of work now that playing football isn't an option, and that's probably a fundamental problem. Even something relatively undemanding like punditry or the after-dinner circuit might be beyond him. In which case even if he dries out successfully, you wonder if boredom and depression will get him back drinking. I think Best had a similar problem.

Too much detail, man.

For every Sheikh Mansour and Abramovich, there's twice as many Venkys and Fernandes. I'm happy with the devil I know.

I thought Krul had one or two shaky moments on crosses and clearances, but couldn't be blamed for the goals. The free kick was over the wall and into the bottom corner of the goal. It could not have been more difficult to save. Krul was covering the other side - as keepers do - then read what Bale was going to do and nearly saved it. Most keepers wouldn't have got anywhere near. The second goal was unlucky. It went through his legs and 9 times out of 10 it would have hit them. Keepers have to spread themselves and that can always happen.

In the first half, I thought we played the best football that I've seen from us for a long time - better than last season, in fact. There's room for improvement in certain areas, but we looked to have the nucleus of a good side.

Ben Arfa has the skill on the ball, Bale has the athleticism. I don't think Bale is technically the greatest, but when he gets the ball in certain situations, there's not a lot you can do to stop him. He just eats up the ground.

Yeah, there's no way that should have gone over the wall, not like Perch to bottle out of something like that. The second is arguable too, Colloccini did poorly, but the chaos was started by Taylor, Colo just failed to clear up his mess for him. He should have been able to do that, but equally he shouldn't have had to in the first place. Taylor's largely played well since returning to the team, but it's only a matter of time before something like that happens and he was obviously shaken by it for a while afterwards, Yanga-Mbiwa needs to be starting the next game. Yeah, I'd be interested to see how Mbiwa does. Neither Colo nor Taylor trust their pace and can get caught in no man's land. With the second goal, both had the chance to seize control of the situation but they ended up leaving it to one another.

At times, we played some really decent football. Our ability to play the ball on the deck has been completely transformed. I've not been one of Perch's fans, but his distribution is a lot quicker than Tiote's and several times in the first half that really helped us maintain the momentum of an attack. Gouffran was a loss. Marveaux struggled to get in the game, and Sissoko looked a bit tired. Colo got done by Dempsey for the free kick which led to the goal, and seemed to hesitate for the second.

Still not completely sure what you're asking, but I don't think Bale can do well as a lone striker because that position is all about making the best of limited space (often with your back to goal). Bale causes havoc when there's space for him to run into.

Who, me?

knew would be, was clinging o hope he wouldn't tho We'll see. He's back, but who knows (a) how fit/ready to play he is (b) if AVB will give him a kick up the arse and not start him. I'll not be convinced until I see him out on that pitch. The Mirror this morning reckon he ain't back and Bale will play as a lone striker cos Dempsey has just got back from Honduras???? This may come back to bite me, but I can't see Bale operating well as a lone striker.

We'll be a fret, make no mistake about that, in all honesty.

nobody is looking at it negativly, its all positive at the minute but it's more than just carr finding players, which i've no doubt other clubs were looking at aswell, i peronally don't think sissoko and m'biwa came here as we were the best deal financially, i think they were persuaded by more than that, maybe as the best show case for a further move but given the wage prudency we appear to be showing i'd doubt we beat everyone else off with wages. Please don't tell me that this drawn out discussion is because you have took idle speculation (that there was genuine better offers for Mbiwa and Sissoko) and turned it outright fact? Come on really?? How many players turn down bigger contracts in this day and age. no no, it's came from me watching the players, having an idea how good they are and finding it difficulit to understand that I appear to have better scouting skills than liverpool, spurs, arsenal et al. i am genuinely surprised that these players have came here, they tend to go to clubs offering better wages than we do and in the champs league plus it's not like they are the 'hidden gems' of carr style folklore. Well, I understand what you mean and share your surprise. My euphoric reaction in the pub last Saturday after the match was along the lines of "how did WE sign him (Cissoko) why didn't he end up at Real Madrid or somewhere? ". His stock may have been high previously but has risen considerably again after his first 2 PL games. Anyway we got him, and having rushed the deal forward means someone other than Carr has performed very well. Regarding wages on offer, contrary to some opinions, we are offering as much as anyone outside of the CL select few and the looney clubs. Perhaps the CL elite considered they had full squads and priorities lie elewhere in strengthening, so financially we are the next best thing. We also seem to be offering significantly longer contracts than other clubs. Sometimes that'll bite us on the bum (eg Ranger), but I reckon it played a big part in Sissoko's decision to come here. That six and a half year deal gives him security for the bulk of his career. Having such a large French contingent must help in attracting other French or French-speaking players. Knowing that there's a potential community to join may overcome some hesitation on the part of players and their wives / partners.

Punditry. Yep. You only have to look at Robbie Savage for proof that a complete lack of a capacity for original thinking is no obstacle to being hailed as an expert. You only have to be a 'character'.

I don't like to see Welbeck out wide. I'd much prefer him in the centre. We're produced quite a few un-English like interpassing moves, one of which led to the goal. Good to see. Walcott is so frustrating. This level of football shows up his technical limitations.

Reading - despite their current form, I can't believe a squad that weak is going to escape. Norwich - they've looked pretty ordinary of late. QPR - I saw a bit of their game on Saturday, and there's not enough fight there.

I've just seen this quote from Remy in the Times. It's from a month back. '..When I've got a small problem, things become difficult. It might sound pretentious, but the physiotherapists say to me that I'm like a Formula One car. Whenever I've got a small problem, it's straight to the pits. When I'm 100 per cent I can do very good things but when there's something not right in my head, it becomes difficult'. He doesn't sound like the sort that would turn out for the sake of the cause, when he's carrying a few niggles.

It'd be great if he could develop his ability to cross with his left foot. At the moment, defenders can shepherd him down the outside without too much worry about the consequences.

Fernandes is a part owner of QPR...how will be just walk away? Unless he can get someone else to buy his shares then he is stuck with them. 'Arry can walk away because he is an employee and can just cut his ties to the club. But an owner would have to find someone to to buy his shares in the club. He paid £35m for a 66% stake, he'll easy get his start up fee back. How the club is financed is of some debate, but he's a businessman, he won't be spending his own money*, he's not that daft? * I may be wrong here, just going off what people are saying, if you've any info I'd be grateful to hear it, quite interested in how they are setup. I think it is his own money, and he'll have no choice but to write it off. I can't see how any bank or other source of finance would lend the club that sort of dosh, not in this climate, and he himself has said that the club is not in debt. In that interview, he talks about it being an investment, in the same way as a certain amount of capital is needed to start up a car or airline business. What he neglects to consider is that a large number of car dealerships and airlines go bust - sometimes big time - and that it's far more difficult to run a football club at a profit. In fact, it's near impossible, because you're competing against other clubs whose owners are prepared to subsidise their losses, to a greater or lesser extent.

I'm not looking forward to Bale going up against our full backs. I think we need Jonas to stand on his laces all game.